Dish sterilizer



Feb. 7, 1933. J THOMAS 1,896,648

DISH STERILIZER Filed Aug. 6, 1931 Plantea Peb. 1, 1933 'PATENT OFFICE :on moins, or mwauxnn, wrsconsnr msns'rmzmm Application led August 8, 1931. Serial No. 555,443.

This invention relates to improvements in dish sterilizers, particularly adapted for small restaurant and household use where 1t is essential or desirable to sterilize dlshes 6 after the same have been washed by immersing the dishes for a suitable period in boihng water.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a relativel small, compact dish 10 sterilizer of relatively lnexpenslve construction which will occupy a minimum amount of space adjacent a sink, which will perform the sterilizing operations quickly and eiliciently, and which is easy and convenient operate.

A further object of the invention 1s to provide a dish sterilizer wherein provision 1s made for supplying to and withdrawing from a tank water or other` liquid, means also being provided for heating the liquid to the .20 desired sterilizing temperature and so maintaining it, and provision also being made for enablin the sterilized articles to be raised to a sultable accessible position, las well as the cover for the sterilizing tank, by foot power, whereby the hands of the operator are free to handle and manipulate the dishes or articles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dish sterilizer having means for simultaneously raising the dish carrying basket and the tank cover, as well as simultaneously operating an instrumentality for releasably holding the cover and basket in elevated positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dish sterilizer which is of very simple construction, is strong and durable, and is well adapted for the purposes set forth. y

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the im roved dish sterilizer, and its parts and com inations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents A thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views.:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved dish sterihzer; y

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view thereof taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showin the basket elevated and the tank cover raise and opened by means of depression of the foot treadle;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view showing the tank cover in lowered closed osition and also the inoperative position of e cover holding means; and

6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 only show.

F1 in the cover elevated and opened and cover h o ding means in its operative retaining position.

Referring more particularly to the drawing it will appear that the sterilizer includes a supporting stand formed of spaced apart supporting egs 8 carrying a horizontal top member 9. Said top is provided with a rectangular opening 10 therein, which is controlled by a cover or closure 11. The inner edge portion of said cover is connected by means of hinges 12 with a vertically slidable block 13, the mounting of which will hereinafter be described more in detail. In its lowered position said block 13, as well as the cover 11, seat so as to close the rectangular opening 10.

` A metallic sterilizing tank 14 having a laterally disposed surroundin shoulder at the upper edge thereof is positioned below said opening 10 and secured to the under surface of the table top 9 by means of the aforesaid shoulder in any suitable manner such as welding or riveting. An insulating box 17, preferably of wood, surrounds the sterilizing tank 14 and extends somewhat belowv the bottom thereof. A anged tank supporting frame 18 is secured to the inner lower edge portion of said box 17 and is adapted to serve as an additional load sup ortin means. A drain pipe 16 extending t roug the bottom of the sterilizing tank, preferably a corner thereof, leads to any convenient point of discharge.

Below the table top and parallel thereto extends a gas main 19 supported by means of straps 20 from the bottom edge of the insulatin box. A burner 21, communicating with tg e gas main 19, is positioned below 10 andincloae roximi tetheaterilising"' tank bottemandniscontiglledbyagaacock Atrayreceivingframeconsiatingofa l l of spaced apart inverted U-shape side 24 joined together at their lower extremities byacrossbar26,hasalegof eachofthe r :n portions, together with a series o joimng cross-pieces form a trasupport 27. The tray support 27 is pted tet intothewhile-the other pair of legs of the -frame is adapted to 1I enggetwopairsof bearings28 and 29, e first of which are ocated in a block 30 directl behind and adjacent to the slidable bl 13 in its lowered position, while the latter are below the alining 28 and in alinement therewith and secured to the insulating box 17.

There is further provided a treadle mechanism which consists of a laterally extending foot pedal 31, a pair of s aoed apart side bars 32 extend' from sai pedal 31 to the cross bar 26 an journalled thereto, and a air of depending links 33. Said links `are oosely mounted at their upper ends on the gas main 19, and the lower ends of said links are bifurcated to straddle medial rtions of the side bars 32 and are ivo y secured thereto to form fulcrums or said side bars or levers 32.

The slidable block 13 has extended therethrough portions of the U side bars of frame 24 an is secured thereto by means of set collars 35. One of the side bars at a point above the set collar 35 carries a bearing supporti collar 36 having a laterally disposed ug wi an opening therein adapted to receive and pivotall carry an L-shaped extension prop or lock ar 37.

In operati the device the operator steps on the foot al which lifts, through elevation of the -bars 24, the block 13 and the cover 11. As the cover rises to its extended position, the extension lock bar 37 slides along the table top until the bar is in a vertical position. In that ition the members 34 are held in extend or elevated position gy means of the lock or prop bar resting on e table top, and this will rmit the operator to withdraw his foot rom the treadle. The cover if not previously thrown back is now lifted back in its out of the way position as shown in Fig. 4.

A tra or basket 38 loaded with soiled `dishes 8 which are normally found on the table portion of the device, is placed on thel tray sutpport and lowered into the tank. To lower e tray the operator places his foot on the treadle and pulls the lock extension bar forward thereby disen said lock,

* and the pressure on the pedal is s owly withdrawn until the block 13 comes into contact with the table top. The cover 11 ia than' brought forward horizontally to close the opening, and the device ia ready to rate as a steriliaer. The waterin the ste 'ng tank is kept at a suitable temperature by means of the gas burner, and minor adjustments of the llame as well as'the su pl of the gas are controlled by the gas cock Water mail? dischar from the tank at any time t ugh the harge pipe 16 and 75 maiy be readily replenished.

rom the foregoing descri tion, it will be seen that the improved steriliner is both simple and novel, and is well adapted for the pur set forth.

What is c aimed as the invention is:

1. In a sterilizer, an open tank, a vertically movable carri having a portion thereof extended into t e tank, a tray carried b said carriage portion, a cover for contro ling the open end of said tank hingedly connected to said carriage, and means for moving said carriage vertically with respect to said tank.

2. In a sterilizer, an open tank, a vertically movable carriage associated with said tank and having a portion thereof extended into the tank, a tray carried by said carriage portion, a cover for controlling the open end of said tank hingedly connected to said car- N riage, a treadle, and connections between said treadle and the carriage for moving the same.

3. In a dish andutensil sterilizer, a supporting frame, a tank mounted therein and aving an open upper end, a rigid carriage vertically movably mounted in said frame and having a portion extending into said tank, a tray carried by said carri por tion, a cover for the open end of .tig tank hingedly connected with said carriage, a treadle, and mechanism between the treadle and carria e for imparting vertical movements to t e carriage.

4. In a dish and utensil sterilizer, a supporting frame, a tank mounted therein and aving an open upper end, a rigid carriage vertically movably mounted in said frame and having a portion extending into said tank, a tray carried by said carriage portion, a block carried fast by another portion of said carriage, acover hingedly connected at one edge to said block and adapted to control the open end of the tank, a treadle, and mechanism between the treadle and carriage -for moving the latter vertically with respect to the tank.

5. In a dish and utensil sterilizer, a supframe, a tank mounted therein and aving an open upper end, a rigid carriage vertically movably mounted in said frame and having a portion extending into said tank, a tray carried b said carriage portion a block carried fast another portion o said carn'age, a cover gedly connected at 13 lll one edge to said block and adapted to oontrol the open end of the tank, a treadle, mechanism between the treadle and carriage for movilthe latter vertically with respect to the ta and a rod pivotalldy connected at one end to said carriage an having its free end engageable with the supporting frame to releasably maintain the carriage and members carried thereby in an elevated position upon actuation of the treadle.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature.

JOHN THOMAS. 

